Building foundations need to be on stable and strong soils.

Soils range
in strength and if the soil under a structure is not stable, the foundation of i
t could crack, sink, or worse the structure could fall. Engineers must consider ma
ny other things when designing the foundations for a structure. They must also t
hink about the settlement of the structure over time to avoid failures. It is an
essential pre-requisite to a full appreciation of the role of soil in Civil Eng
ineering practice.